Hutt City Council is aiming for at least a 20% reduction in landfill solid waste in the just-released draft waste management plan.

The plan, now available for public comment, contains the Council’s proposed strategy for managing solid waste from creation to disposal.

“While we are always pushing the public and industry to reduce, reuse, recover and recycle their waste wherever possible, we also need to set ourselves some horizon targets for sustainable waste management,” Hutt City Council solid waste manager Talebul Islam said.

“Reducing solid waste levels in the landfills by at least 20% by 2010 will be accompanied by more educational initiatives, waste minimisation techniques, and safer and better ways of managing landfills to best practice guidelines. Of course, we could aim for a greater reduction target and that question will form part of our consultation on this plan.”

The goals set out in the Draft Waste Management Plan are:
 to promote and encourage effective, efficient and sustainable waste management practices within Hutt City;
 to minimise the quantity of waste being generated and disposed of within Hutt City by encouraging waste reduction, reuse, recycling and recovery before disposal.

“We have developed a number of strategies to address outstanding issues in the areas of waste collection, waste minimisation, disposal, and public education and involvement,” Dr Islam said.

Public submissions on the draft waste management plan are invited before it is finalised and considered by Council. The draft waste management plan discussion document includes a submission form, and can be obtained from the Hutt City Council’s libraries and service centres, by phoning the Council on (04) 570 6666, or emailing contact@huttcity.govt.nz. Submissions close on 22 October 1999.

ENDS

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